SINGING TO A BULLDOG - Tapa dura

"I've always known Anson to be a great storyteller as well as a true andgenerous friend. Now he's written the most important story of hislife--about Willie Turner, the head janitor at one of Anson's first jobs, whose words of wisdom guided him through a turbulent time in his life and gave him the confidence to move forward to a successful career as anactor, television director, and entrepreneur. Even better, he's made itinto a truly inspirational book of life lessons for the rest of us."--Ron Howard

"Singing To A Bulldog is such a meaningful, fun, and uplifting book. I have such sweet memories of Anson . . . like millions of others, I loved him on "Happy Days." I am proud to be a little part of this wonderfully written, revealing, informative, and entertaining book. Praise and congratulations to Anson."--Dolly Parton

Singing to a Bulldog would never have been written if it weren't for Dr. Robert Temes's book How to Write a Memoir in 30 Days. For years, people have been saying to me that I should write a book about my life; and for even longer, I have wanted to share with the world Willie Turner's lessons and the profound effect he had on who I became as an individual, giving me the tools for a full-bodied life.

I always thought, "Someday, when I have more time, I'll write that book." Then a friend gave me a copy of Dr. Temes's book and I was inspired to start immediately. It not only gave me a detailed, step-by-step guide to write my first memoir, but also the confidence that I could do it successfully. I encourage you to make the time to tell your story.--Anson Williams

Growing up in 1950s California, young Anson William Heimlich showed very little promise. Clumsy, unsure of himself, and made to feel like a failure by his disappointed artist of a dad, Anson started working odd jobs as a teenager to help support his family. His boss at one of these jobs, an aging African-American janitor named Willie, unexpectedly became a mentor—and the lessons he taught young Anson proved to be invaluable throughout his subsequent career as an actor, director, and entrepreneur.

In Singing to a Bulldog, Anson Williams (as he came to be known) relates both these lessons and the never-before-revealed stories of the many seminal TV series he has worked on and the famous (and not-so-famous) folks he’s encountered during his 40 years in Hollywood, including: · being directed by Steven Spielberg in his first dramatic role · getting kidnapped by Gerald Ford’s daughter at the White House · subbing for Sammy Davis, Jr., as a headliner with Bill Cosby · being humbled by Sunny, a young volunteer for the Cerebral Palsy National Organization · mentoring Shailene Woodley on the set of The Secret Life of the American Teenager and many more.

This compelling read has a cross-generational and broad appeal, combining all the fun of a celebrity memoir with the emotional impact of an inspirational bestseller. With Singing to a Bulldog, Anson Williams brings his gift of storytelling to a new medium in a book that is sure to touch readers’ hearts and lives as profoundly as Willie once touched his.